4 Ways To Get Your Home Holiday Ready + $40 Cash Giveaway

Last year was the first time that we had Christmas on our own with no traveling to see family. I kept expecting that at some point it would just automatically feel like Christmas, but on Christmas Eve I felt myself feeling depressed because the holiday was so close, but the feeling of Christmas seemed so far away. We quickly hurried and made some sugar cookies, decorated them, watched a Christmas movie, and tried to make the best of it, but it really just never felt like Christmas. 

I realized after that the feelings of Christmas come from the weeks of preparation and anticipation beforehand. We never had decorations up except for our tree. We never had an advent calendar to count the days down with. We didn't read Luke 2 in attempt to remember the special meaning of the day... There just wasn't any effort. 

This year all of that is changing. I already have my tree up, the nativity is out, I'm crafting a DIY advent calendar was we speak... Christmas is oozing from every room in this house. If you're needing a little inspiration to get you and your family holiday ready, then look no further. Today I've teamed up with Hallmark to show you 4 ways to get you and your home holiday ready in no time. 

Decorate Your Home: This might be a no brainer, but when you're a young married couple you don't really have a budget for decorations. When we were first married I spent $20 at a dollar store and did what I could to brighten up our first apartment and it was a success. Some things I like to do now are hang our stockings, get some decorative throw pillows, and put up our Christmas tree. 

I'm also that person who really loves to wrap a couple empty boxes and put them under the tree weeks and weeks before Christmas. I think it just looks so pretty and helps to bring that festive vibe into the home. This year I picked up the Hallmark Gift Wrap Pad which comes with 5 assorted prints on a  perforated pad to make selecting a print and wrapping your gifts incredibly easy. I'll definitely be using the rest of this paper when I wrap our real presents this year. 



Light a Candle: I just recently started loving candles and I think they can do a lot for your home. I've really been loving soy candles because they're better for you when you breath them in, and they have a longer burn time than a typical wax candle. I picked up this cinnamon bark scented one from Crafters & Co at my Hallmark Gold Crown store and I love the warm festive aroma that fills our home from it. 



Read Christmas Stories: We love books in our home and every year we add 1-2 new Christmas stories to our collection. I found this Santa's Sleigh is on it's Way to Georgia at my local Hallmark Store and it's quickly getting a lot of use in our home. 



Give Gifts with Meaning:  I love giving someone a plate of cookies as much as the next person, but I also love giving gifts that remind me of the purpose of the holiday and reminding people of our Savior. I love this cute "He is Holy, He is Here, He is Love", manger scene sign that I also picked up at Hallmark and can't wait to gift it to someone this year. 


Because I love you, and because I want to be able to give back to you during this holiday season, I'm going to be doing a $40 paypal cash giveaway so that you can get your home ready for the holidays. Giveaway will run until 12/09/15 at 11:59pm. Enter using the rafflecopter below. 



38 comments

  1. I think you need to change the title of the first contest entry lol. It's asking me what my favorite diaper rash cream is haha! I was startled at first like, but I don't have a baby...!
    Anyways, you do an amazing job at decorating, I also loved the party setup you showed last week, that was gorgeous.

    Gina
    Pink Wings

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  2. Santa's Sleigh Scene Laser-Cut Wood Decoration Is beautiful!!

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  3. I agree prep and a lot of Activities to help remind us what the Holidays are about!

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  4. The Night Before Christmas Recordable Storybook is my favorite.

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  5. Love this post! Thanks for sharing! Happy Holidays! xo
    http://publiclivessecretrecipes.com/2015/11/holiday-giveaway.html

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  6. I like itty bittys® Snowby Stuffed Animal because it's cute

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  7. I would love to try their candles. I think the ocean one would be great!

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  8. I love what you've done with your decorations!

    xx
    Lauren Elizabeth
    Petite in Pearls

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  9. The jasmine hand soap stands out! My favourite scent...

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  10. We need to decorate for Christmas still!! I love how you decorated your bookshelf- very cute!

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  11. I would love the Gourmet Pretzels. The look so good.

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  12. I love The Elf on a Shelf! I wanted to do it this year but didn't find a good deal on one in time.

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  13. Crafters & Co. Cinnamon Bark 16-oz Candle

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  14. I love the Star Wars™ Holiday C-3PO™ Stuffed Animal

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  15. I LOVE the Star Wars™ R2-D2™ Mug with Sound! Adorable!
    Mary Beth Elderton

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  16. The Tea Set by Hallmark artist Jeanne Rittmueller is my favorite! So pretty!

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  17. I like the mistletoe luxury liquid soap.

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  18. I like the Tea sets that most. What pretty designs.

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  19. I like the Crafters & Co Vanilla Chai Tea Sachets.

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  20. I love the laser cut nativity decoration.

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  21. Their tea sets are so cute and I love their Honeysuckle candle :)

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  22. Yay, jasmine hand soap. . Wow, prize $40 gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. :)

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  23. Elizabeth Miller -- I would love to have the Crafters & Co. Coconut Grove 16-oz Candle. I absolutely love the smell of coconut. It's has a mildly sweet aroma and makes the closed up winter of a house make me think of summer.

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  24. Rafflecopter name: anna key. I love the crofter's and co Village tins!

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  25. I'd love to try the Vanilla Chai Tea

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  26. I like the Mistletoe Luxury Bar Soap.

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  27. I love the Miniature Christmas Tree Decoration

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  28. I love the elf on a shelf, it is so cute!

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  29. The Star Wars ornaments are really cool!

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  30. I really like the Star Wars ornaments, we already have a few on our tree as we are huge fans!

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  31. The Elf on the Shelf is my favorite gift.

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  32. The blue dandelion teacup and saucer set is adorable!

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  33. 7-oz Almond Butter Toffee in Decorative Tin - such a nice gift!

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  34. I love the star wars holiday darth vader christmas ornament.

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  35. The 7.6-oz Sea Salt Caramels in a Pre-Wrapped Gift Box! :)

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  36. I'd love to try their Jasmine candle!

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